India chairs 28th IORA Senior Officials Committee meeting, reinforces cooperation for peaceful Indian Ocean Region
New Delhi, June 17
India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in New Delhi on June 15-16, reinforcing regional cooperation and advancing discussions on the organisation's future roadmap for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a post on X on Tuesday, said the meeting was held under India's current chairship of IORA and reviewed progress across the organisation's institutional matters and priority areas.
"India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of @IORAofficial in New Delhi on 15-16 June 2026 under India's current Chairship of IORA. The meeting reviewed progress across IORA's institutional matters, priority areas and advanced discussions on the next IORA Action Plan (2028-2032), reinforcing cooperation for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean Region," the MEA said.
The meeting comes as India continues to place emphasis on regional maritime cooperation, security, connectivity and inclusive growth across the Indian Ocean Region.
According to a press release issued on May 7, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India's commitment to building an inclusive and future-ready maritime sector while addressing the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi.
The minister said women's participation in India's maritime sector has increased by 340 per cent since 2020, attributing the growth to initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and leadership opportunities for women.
"Through initiatives like 'Sagar Mein Samman', we are advancing dignity, inclusion and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has seen a remarkable rise of about 340 per cent since 2020," Sonowal had said.
He noted that the Indian Ocean remains critical for global trade, energy flows and supply chains, and stressed the need for stronger cooperation among countries in the region.
The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue, hosted by India as Chair of IORA for 2025-27, focused on the theme 'Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World.' The forum brought together ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to discuss maritime security, blue economy, disaster risk management, climate change and women's empowerment.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The 340% increase in women's participation in the maritime sector is impressive! 'Sagar Mein Samman' seems like a good initiative. But we need to see more women in leadership roles, not just entry-level positions. Hope the government tracks this progress properly.
As someone who works in logistics, the Indian Ocean is critical for global supply chains. India's leadership in IORA is welcome, but I hope they balance security concerns with keeping trade routes free and open. Too much militarization could backfire.
Finally, some focus on the Indian Ocean Region beyond just China's presence. The blue economy and disaster management need more attention—our coastal communities are always the first to suffer during cyclones and tsunamis. Let's hope the roadmap is actionable, not just talks.
Interesting that India is chairing IORA while also dealing with border tensions elsewhere. The Indian Ocean is a huge area—cooperation on maritime security and climate change is smart. But will smaller island nations feel their voices are heard? That's the real test.
Happy to see women's empowerment highlighted. But 340% rise from a very low base doesn't mean much. We need to see actual numbers and ensure these jobs are safe and well-paying for women. Also, what about coastal women in traditional fishing communities? They need support too.
V We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.